BATTESIMO IN RIVA AL MARE

BABY MATILDA WAS BAPTISED LAST WEEKEND BY THE MEDITERRANEAN SEASIDE. SHE IS THE FIRST CHILD OF LUDOVICA AND DAVIDE (MY COUSIN). THEY ARE SO HAPPY AND IN LOVE!

MATILDA KEPT AN EYE ON THE PREPARATIONS, FROM THE CAKE TO THE CANDIES AND THE PARTY FAVORS! THE CAKE WAS A DELICIOUS LIGHT 'PAN DI SPAGNA' MADE PARTLY WITH ALMOND FLOUR. THE ICING WAS AN ITALIAN MERINGUE- WHICH IS FEATHER-LIGHT TOO! I'LL POST THE RECIPES SOON FOR WHO'S INTERESTED.

ALL THIS IS FOR ME?!

MY FIRST CAKE!

CONFETTI, DELICIOUS TRADITION

CAVALLINI DI GIOSTRA

THE RELIGEOUS CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN LA SPEZIA CATHEDRAL. THEN THE PARTY MOVED ON TO THE PARENTS' FAMILY VILLA ON THE SEASHORE AT PORTOVENERE NEARBY, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL LOCATIONS IN ITALY. PORTOVENERE IS THE VILLAGE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE BAY OF LA SPEZIA, OPPOSITE THE ISLAND OF LA PALMARIA. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILLS THAT YOU CAN SEE START THE CINQUE TERRE. ON THE POINT IN THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE THE 13TH C CHURCH OF SAN GIORGIO WITH ITS DRAMATIC LOCATION HIGH ON A ROCK.

PROUD PARENTS

HEY! WHO'S THIS PARTY FOR?!

A HAPPY MEMORY

CIAO CIAO

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE OF ITALY ARE BEAUTIFUL. ITALIANS KNOW HOW TO LIVE THEM.

DESPITE ALL THE EFFORT IN ORGANISING A FAMILY PARTY LIKE THIS IT IS DEFINITLEY WORTH IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE PRICELESS MEMORIES THAT PEOPLE WILL KEEP WITH THEM. I WISH MATILDA, LUDOVICA AND DAVIDE LONG, HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE! THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE THIS STORY. :)